Poems from Pain to Life (a Vietnam Dog Handler's Love and Fears of Life) (Paperback)

Through soul-searching poetry that helped contextualize his life experiences, veteran Rex A. Greenawalt shares with readers his stories of combat, family, memorial, and companionship with Hubert, a scout dog who helped save his life during the Vietnam War. Greenawalt writes of the pain and isolation many veterans have come to know upon returning home and uses his words to show how addressing and learning to understand one's pain can lead to a meaningful life with a loving family and supportive community. POEMS from PAIN to LIFE is a diverse collection about the emotional journey of one man who, from an aching history of war, grew into a passionate artist. About the Author: A native of Wayland, Michigan, Rex A. Greenawalt was drafted into the U.S. Army after high school and sent to Vietnam in 1968. There he was trained as a scout dog handler and was twice wounded in combat. A two-time recipient of the Purple Heart, Greenawalt began writing poetry in 2001 at the North Chicago VA Medical Center, where he was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. He remains an active member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Dog Handler Association and volunteers with the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Greenawalt and his wife Gloria have three children, Jason, Anita, and Donna, as well as fifteen grandchildren. He continues to show his strong belief in family and faith by writing poetry, often inspired by family members or at the request of community leaders for special events.